‘Stranger Things’ Will Have More Sun and ‘Poppy Fun’ in Season 3

We already know that Stranger Things 3 will take us to 1985 for all the Back to the Future references therein, but the stars won’t be the only ones with new looks. Fresh intel on the third season reveals a lot more sun and fun in store for the Hawkins crew, at least before “things inevitably turn super dark.”

Buried in executive producer Shawn Levy’s confirmation of Season 3 taking place in 1985 is the summer setting; a significant shakeup for the series. The first season covered November 1983 to Christmas of that same year, while the second season roughly followed suit with a Halloween 1984 theme, and subsequent “Snow Ball” dance. Speaking with Variety, Levy elaborated that the summer theme would provide a new aesthetic and lighter tone to the series – at least at first:

Season 3 is set in the summer, so right out of the gate that’s a big difference. The first two seasons were very much school-based. This is that time of year where it’s not about school, it’s about the swimming pool and campfires and parades and Fourth of July and fireworks, so there’s kind of a poppy fun to Season 3 that’s really enjoyable before things inevitably turn super dark.

Gasp – no more Mr. Clarke or AV Club? In either case, it’s hard not to recall images of Fourth of July horror like Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, which already influenced Season 1’s depiction of the Demogorgon. There are also unverified reports that Stranger Things 3 is similarly casting an inept Mayor who’d sooner bury news of town threats than address them – another likely Jaws parallel. As to the threat itself, Levy confirmed that Season 2’s “Mind Flayer” will try new approaches to entering our world, having failed with the various Demo-creatures.

Production will begin in April for a likely 2019 premiere, also taking advantage of Atlanta’s warm and greener months for the first time. Levy teased to expect more casting announcements soon, so stay tuned.